Soccer focus

Madrid: Leaders Valencia have left the door open for Real Madrid to recapture top spot in the Primera Liga after being held to a 0-0 draw away to a determined Valladolid. Valencia dominated most of Saturday's match but with talented playmaker Pablo Aimar serving a one-match ban, the visitors lacked the creativity to break down a well organised defence. The result left Valencia with a two-point advantage over Real Madrid, but the champions could reclaim top spot by winning at Real Betis on Sunday. Barcelona missed their chance to move up the standings when they conceded a late goal to draw 1-1 at home to Athletic Bilbao in Saturday's late match, in a game that marked the debut of new signing Edgar Davids. Frank Rijkaard's side remain seventh on the table, 16 points behind Valencia and one ahead of Bilbao. Basement-side Murcia mounted an impressive fightback when coming back from two goals down at half-time for a 2-2 draw at home to fellow strugglers Celta Vigo.

ITALY

Endangered Parma nip point

Rome: Adriano has celebrated his return from injury by scoring the equaliser in Parma's 1-1 draw with Udinese in Serie A, while Lazio were held by the same scoreline at lowly Modena. Brazilian Adriano headed in from a corner 10 minutes from the end of the match to cancel out teammate Matteo Ferrari's first-half own goal. Parma, whose future is uncertain after the collapse of their owners Parmalat, remain fifth, level on 31 points with Inter Milan. Lazio's draw left the Rome-based club sixth and 10 points behind league leaders and arch-rivals AS Roma before Sunday's games. Lazio's shareholders have approved a €120 million ($196.35m) capital hike, aimed at stopping top players leaving during the January transfer window.

SCOTLAND

Rangers' heart still pumps

Glasgow: Rangers have kept alive their faint Premier League title hopes through Shota Arveladze's late winner in a 1-0 home victory against Motherwell. Motherwell's young side fought gamely until Georgian striker Arveladze's 82nd-minute effort settled matters on Saturday. Rangers manager Alex McLeish said he had hoped his side could put on a show for the fans but the most important thing was "the resilience and grinding out the result like we did on the way to winning the league last term". Rangers moved to eight points behind unbeaten leaders Celtic, who travel to third-placed Hearts on Sunday. Celtic have 55 points from 19 games, Rangers are on to 47, with Hearts on 33. Elsewhere, Livingston moved above Motherwell into fifth place after beating Hibernian 1-0, while Billy Dodds's late penalty gave Dundee United a 3-2 win over Aberdeen. Bottom club Partick Thistle went further adrift after Barry Smith's late winner gave Dundee a 2-1 win at Firhill.

ENGLAND

The long and short of Becks

London: One of David Beckham's legs is longer than the other, the England captain has told the News of the World. Beckham said in Sunday's edition that he was unaware of the problem until he underwent a medical before his transfer from Manchester United to Real Madrid. "My left leg is shorter than my right," he told the newspaper. "I think it's a common problem but the difference in mine is a bit more unusual. I have tried to wear insoles to help but I can't wear anything in my [soccer] boots. I don't like wearing anything padded because I only want to feel the boot against my foot and nothing else, especially when I'm taking free kicks."

FRANCE

Monaco held up in Corsica

Paris: Ligue 1 leaders Monaco and second-placed Paris St Germain have been held to goalless draws. Monaco travelled to Corsica and despite dominating Bastia in Saturday's match, blustery conditions and a sturdy defence hampered their attacking game, while PSG, playing later in the day, failed to make the most of home advantage against lowly Metz. Monaco, on 46 points, remain seven ahead of PSG and are eight clear of champions Olympique Lyon and AJ Auxerre, in third and fourth places. Lyon defeated Montpellier 3-0, scoring twice before half-time through Vikash Dhorasoo and Peguy Luyindula, the third coming in injury time from Julien Viale. Auxerre ran out 2-0 winners at Racing Strasbourg, thanks to an Olivier Kapo volley from close range on 20 minutes and Djibril Cisse, struck in injury time for his 15th ligue goal of the season to reinforce his spot as the ligue's top-scorer. Sochaux had a nightmare at Stade Rennes, being crushed 4-0.

SPAIN

Real butt in to foil Spurs

Madrid: Real Madrid may elbow Tottenham out of the way in the race to sign unsettled Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt on the recommendation of former clubmate David Beckham, according to Spanish media reports. Spurs were reported on Tuesday to be set to make a £5 million ($11.86m) bid for Butt after United manager Alex Ferguson agreed to the England midfielder's transfer request, the 29-year-old having fallen behind Phil Neville, Darren Fletcher and Kleberson in the club's pecking order. But according to sports daily Marca, Real are monitoring Butt, who made his United debut in 1992, Beckham having apparently alerted the Spanish giants to his availability.